I tell you what guys, I just haven't had any luck with the vendor's i've been using lately.
The garbage dash pad, then my splash shields from auto body specialties shipped to some dude in penn state over 2 weeks ago and now on to Right Stuff Detailing...I'm really starting to wonder if there is some strange kind of VooDoo curse on my car and I.
So I called Right stuff to inquire into the bracket/linkage off the new power booster that looks totally different than the stock configuration on my roadrunner. When I called up and ordered this kit, I specified all the important facts about the factory options with the brake's..Factory power drum brake car with 11" drums. I spoke with a "Bear" fella the first time and yesterday a "Jason" chap.
After talking with Jason and explaining it would boil down to a frankenstein project to make this work, he stated this power booster does not work with a factory power brake set up anyways, so why would I order it. There kits are only designed to work for cars that came with manual brakes and then upgrading from there. I relayed to him when I spoke with the first cat and disclosed all this information, he said it will bolt right in and work just fine.
Jason specified that no one makes a replacement power booster for an all ready power drum to disc converstion, but using the factory power booster with the new set up should work just fine. Something didn't sound right with that to me, so I did my research.
A. A power drum power booster is not the same as a power disc power booster...The power assist ratio is different and they do not operate the same. It will not work correctly mix/matched.
B. You can buy a power booster for a dic brake set up that is identical to stock..I did so myself yesterday after speaking with these folks. I also ordered the matching master cylinder for that booster.. Parts were ordered as I owned a factory power disc/drum on a 69' GTX and is same as the factory set up/look.
They specified they'll send over a shipping slip to ship the booster back to then and recredit my card. I called back again, told them I found a brand new stock booster/master cylinder set up, and needed to send the master cylinder back as well. He specified that their master cylinder would work just fine with that new booster, and if I send the master cylinder back there will be a restocking fee on it.
So........first they don't exist, but now that they do suddenly, they know that their product will bolt right on to it??? What the hell is wrong with people these days? Yeah..not paying it.. I'll bitch till i'm blue in the face before I pay that.
After digging deeper into the whole kit, a few other things dissapointed me as well. The supplied proportioning valve looks like something bought out of a gumball maching. Cheap, plastic and flimsy. There is no mention of installation of it in their directions or even where to begin at a generic setting point. When I inquired about that, the guy just told me have it all the way open and if your rear end is locking up, just give it a turn or two. Yuppp....Starting out with my back brakes locking up right off the bat, sure sounds like a great way to troubleshoot the system...Brilliant!!
The directions are vague all together...No mention of bench bleeding your master cylinder or specifying half the torque values..Also, not one in the kit or nothing mentioned about buying and installing a 10PSI residual brake valve for the rear drums, which is pretty much undoubtedly needed for this set up.
So thus far...kind of turning into a headache with these folks... I wouldn't quite kick them to the curd yet because the parts seem real good quality (except the adjustable prop. valve), but I would double specify what your stock configuration is and confirm it again. Do not rely on them for an accurate set up with your conversion, do your homework. I got great information speaking with the folks at Wilwood on the in depth/engineering workings of the typical braking systems for different arragements with converstions.
Good luck!
